President Bola Tinubu met with suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, during a recent trip to London.
The meeting, confirmed by The Africa Report, reportedly took place at Fubara’s request.
At the time of this report, details of their discussion remained unclear, as presidential aides reached by The PUNCH stated they were not part of Tinubu’s latest trip.
Recall that the President declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, invoking Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.
The declaration led to the removal of Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, from office.
In a national address, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability in the state, which he said had disrupted governance and posed a threat to national stability.
He subsequently appointed Navy Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as sole administrator.
The emergency declaration was met with resistance, as governors from seven PDP-led states filed a suit at the Supreme Court, challenging its legality and demanding a return to democratic governance.
As reported by The PUNCH, Tinubu, who had been in Paris and London since April 2, agreed to meet with Fubara in a bid to ease tensions.
According to sources, the two discussed ways to restore stable governance in the oil-rich state and explored the possibility of Fubara’s return to office before the suspension period ends.
Notably absent from the meeting was Fubara’s former political ally and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Sources suggested Wike was uneasy about the talks being held without his involvement.
Tinubu is expected to meet with Fubara, Wike, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly soon to work toward a lasting resolution to the state’s political crisis.
